The 51st edition of the NXT Classic was decided by a thrilling head-to-head battle between Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla). Breaking away from a group of 21 riders with approximately 27 of the 196.3 kilometres still to cover, the two quickly reached an agreement to ride together towards the finish line in Eijsden, where in the decisive two-man sprint, the twenty-two-year-old Dutch rider prevailed, securing his first road victory of the season.

Behind them, at the end of a race characterized from the start by narrow roads, crashes (among those who fell were Alberto Dainese, Cedrik Bakk Christophersen, Anton Schiffer and Lennes Jabobs), punctures and attacks (with 36 climbs included in this year's route) without interruption, Casper Pedersen (Soudal Quick-Step) claimed the third step of the podium. In the sprint for third place involving the first chasing group, he beat Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) and Huub Artz (Lotto Intermarché).

Del Grosso, therefore, with only his second professional road victory following his success in the second stage of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkiye 2025, succeeds Dion Smith in the honours list (winner last year ahead of Frank van den Broek and Niklas Larsen) and becomes the first Dutch rider to win the Limburg classic since Floris Gerts in 2016.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tibor Del Grosso (NED/Alpecin-Premier Tech)

2. Mauro Schmid (SUI/Jayco AlUla) s.t.

3. Casper Pedersen (DAN/Soudal Quick-Step) at 7"

4. Anders Foldager (DAN/Jayco AlUla) at 7"

5. Huub Artz (NED/Lotto Intermarché) at 7"

6. Aldo Taillieu (BEL/Team Visma | Lease a Bike) at 7"

7. Pascal Eenkhoorn (NED/Soudal Quick-Step) at 7"

8. Senna Remijn (NED/Alpecin-Premier Tech) at 7"

9. Roy Hoogendoorn (NED/Metec - SOLARWATT p/b Mantel) at 7"

10. Marcin Budziński (POL/MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 7"